Jim Sedor, Author at State and Federal Communications

October 15, 2025 • Written by Jim Sedor

Wednesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance Colorado: “Former State Senator Agrees to Pay Nearly $3K to Settle Campaign Finance Violations Surfaced by Colorado Sun” by Jesse Paul for Colorado Sun Oklahoma: “Oklahoma Lawmakers Compare ‘Dark Money’ to Laundering in Interim Study, Discuss Red Tape” by Lionel Ramos for […]

October 14, 2025 • Written by Jim Sedor

Tuesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance Oklahoma: “Oklahoma Campaign Finance Website to Remain Offline for More Than a Month” by Alex Gladden (Oklahoman) for MSN Ethics National: “Trump Escalates His Use of Federal Power to Target Democratic States” by Naftali Bendavid (Washington Post) for MSN Indiana: “Hogsett Ignored Thomas […]

October 13, 2025 • Written by Jim Sedor

Monday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance Alaska: “Supreme Court Orders Dunleavy Backers to Comply with Subpoenas in Campaign Finance Case” by Iris Samuels (Anchorage Daily News) for Yahoo News Rhode Island: “R.I. Elections Board Slashes Campaign Finance Fines in the Hopes of Getting Scofflaws […]

October 10, 2025 • Written by Jim Sedor

News You Can Use Digest – October 10, 2025

National/Federal Bari Weiss to Be Named Top Editor at CBS News MSN – Will Oremus, Caroline O’Donovan, and Jeremy Barr (Washington Post) | Published: 10/3/2025 The newly formed media giant Paramount Skydance will acquire the Free Press, an online publication, and install […]

National/Federal

Bari Weiss to Be Named Top Editor at CBS News

MSN – Will Oremus, Caroline O’Donovan, and Jeremy Barr (Washington Post) | Published: 10/3/2025

The newly formed media giant Paramount Skydance will acquire the Free Press, an online publication, and install its founder, Bari Weiss, as editor in chief of CBS News. The move heralds a new era at the 98-year-old broadcast network, whose corporate parents made moves to address the Trump administration’s allegations of liberal bias as they sought approval for an $8 billion merger that was finalized in August.

Democrats’ Defiance on Shutdown Shows a New, Tougher Approach to Trump

MSN – Naftali Bendavid and Yasmeen Abutaleb (Washington Post) | Published: 10/4/2025

Democrats’ defiant approach to the current government shutdown reflects a party mood that has shifted dramatically as a growing number of Democrats inside and outside Washington are embracing all-out confrontation with President Trump. Only a few months ago, some leading voices in the party, stunned by Trump’s broad election win, were counseling against picking unnecessary fights or appearing to reject the voters’ will. But in this shutdown battle, and a growing number of political fights around the country, it is harder to find Democrats arguing against forceful resistance.

States Try Getting Tough on Political Violence After Charlie Kirk Killing

MSN – Daniel Han and Natalie Fertig (Politico) | Published: 10/4/2025

Charlie Kirk’s murder spurred efforts to get tough on political violence in statehouses around the country. But states had been grappling with different types of legislation to stem the violence in a year that has been full of it, from the arson attack against Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro to the assassination of former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman. Political violence experts said legislation could be practical in mitigating some acts of violence, though not a panacea.

Trump Officials Keep Talking About DOJ’s Biggest Prosecutions – Putting Cases in Jeopardy

MSN – Erica Orden (Politico) | Published: 10/5/2025

President Trump is deploying the Justice Department to punish and prosecute his perceived enemies and advance his political agenda. But his color commentary, and that of senior members of his administration, about the cases is threatening to derail them in court. Public comments by Trump and high-ranking officials including Attorney General Pam Bondi and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem have already become flashpoints in high-profile cases.

Justice Department Takes Case Against Trump Supporter to Trial

MSN – James Fanelli (Wall Street Journal) | Published: 10/5/2025

A Justice Department firmly in Donald Trump’s control is in the unusual position of putting on trial one of the president’s supporters and dredging up allegations of Chinese money flowing into his unsuccessful 2020 re-election effort. Prosecutors charged Xinyue Lou during the Biden administration. He is accused of orchestrating a straw-donor scheme to circumvent contribution limits. Prosecutors said he recruited and reimbursed donors to a 2019 fundraiser at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort with the goal of helping Chinese nationals attend.

Trump Official Bypassed Ethics Rules in Criminal Referrals of Fed Governor and Other Foes, Sources Say

MSN – Marisa Taylor and Chris Prentice (Reuters) | Published: 10/6/2025

The Trump appointee accusing the president’s political foes of mortgage fraud skipped over his agency’s inspector general when making criminal referrals, bypassing rules meant to ensure that federal officials do not abuse their power for partisan purposes. Bill Pulte, director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, earlier this year made criminal referrals against targets including Lisa Cook, the Federal Reserve governor whom President Trump has tried to dismiss, for alleged crimes related to their mortgages.

Judges Appointed by Trump Keep Ruling Against Him. He’s Not Happy About It.

MSN – Kyle Cheney (Politico) | Published: 10/6/2025

While President Trump and his allies have spent all year leveling pointed attacks at Democratic judicial appointees, labeling them rogue insurrectionists and radicals, the president is increasingly facing stark rejections from people he put on the bench. The brushbacks have come mainly from District Court judges, who occupy the lowest level of the three-tiered federal judiciary. In some cases in which Trump-appointed judges have heard Trump-related cases, they have delivered sweeping warnings about the expansion of executive power, the erosion of checks and balances and have criticized his attacks on judges writ large.

James Comey Pleads Not Guilty to Criminal Charges Following Trump Pressure to Prosecute

MSN – Kyle Cheney and Josh Gerstein (Politico) | Published: 10/8/2025

Former FBI Director James Comey pleaded not guilty in his first appearance in court as a criminal defendant in a case that has roiled the Justice Department and prompted outcry that President Trump is weaponizing criminal charges against his enemies. The judge set a January 5, 2026, trial date. Comey is facing two felony charges stemming from his testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee in 2020, when he discussed leading the FBI amid an investigation into ties between Trump’s 2016 campaign and Russia.

Conservative Push for Charlie Kirk Statues Revives Debate on Memorials

MSN – Kelsey Ables and Katie Tarrant (Washington Post) | Published: 10/8/2025

It was not long after Charlie Kirk was fatally shot that pitches for monuments to the 31-year-old conservative activist began to surface. The push for such monuments, particularly at college campuses, is unusual, experts say. Many figures given statues in the U.S. have been deceased for decades. The effort reflects how Kirk, a star among young conservatives but also divisive for his controversial rhetoric on race, sexuality, and other issues, has been hailed by the right as a kind of martyr.

Trump Is Complicating the GOP’s Anti-Censorship Campaign

MSN – Naomi Nix and Will Oremus (Washington Post) | Published: 10/9/2025

For years, Republicans have denounced tech companies’ policies barring hateful and misleading posts, alleging that a sweeping liberal censorship operation led by the Biden administration was forcing social media platforms to suppress conservative voices. That campaign is running into an awkward new obstacle: President Trump’s efforts to rein in liberal speech.

Supreme Court Won’t Hear Ghislaine Maxwell’s Appeal

MSN – Mark Berman (Washington Post) | Published: 10/6/2025

The Supreme Court said it would not hear Ghislaine Maxwell’s appeal of her sex-trafficking conviction, declining to consider arguments from the imprisoned associate of deceased financier Jeffrey Epstein that she was improperly prosecuted. The Epstein case and the prosecution of Maxwell have been an issue for the Trump administration for months. The case has long fueled conspiracy theories and speculation, and the decision not to release further Epstein-related files ignited outrage among President Trump’s right-wing base.

Jose Uribe Gets No Jail Time After Cooperating in Menendez Trial

MSN – Kristie Cattafi and Katie Sobko (Bergen Record) | Published: 10/9/2025

The star witness in former U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez’s federal corruption and bribery trial was sentenced to no jail time after cooperating with the federal prosecutors and pleading guilty to federal charges last year. Jose Uribe, one of three New Jersey businesspeople indicted alongside Menendez, spent several days during Menendez’s trial testifying against the then-senator and admitted bribing him. Instead of prison, Uribe was sentenced to home detention for six months and three years of supervision.

Trump Fires Black Officials from an Overwhelmingly White Administration

Seattle Times – Elisabeth Bumiller and Erica Green (New York Times) | Published: 10/8/2025

There have been a series of firings of Black officials from high-profile positions in an overwhelmingly white Trump administration that has banished all diversity, equity, and inclusion programs across the federal government. While there are no statistics on firings by race, an examination of the people Trump is appointing to fill those and other jobs shows a stark trend. Of President Trump’s 98 Senate-confirmed appointees to the administration’s most senior leadership roles in its first 200 days, only two, or two percent, are Black.

From the States and Municipalities

Canada – Ontario Labour Minister Attended Lobbyist’s Wedding After Granting His Clients Millions in Training Funds

The Trillum – Charlie Pinkerton and Jack Hauen | Published: 10/8/2025

Ontario Labour Minister David Piccini attended the wedding of a lobbyist after his office awarded the lobbyist’s clients millions of dollars through a training fund program the province’s auditor general recently described as “not fair, transparent or accountable.” Piccini, who has final say over who receives money through the $2.5-billion Skills Development Fund, was in Paris to attend the wedding of Michael Rudderham, a lobbyist and longtime friend of the minister.

California – Favors & Deals at CapRadio

MSN – Ishani Desai (Sacramento Bee) | Published: 10/6/2025

Two influential Capital Public Radio (CapRadio) leaders skirted guardrails intended to fortify the nonprofit against ethical lapses and steered $1.1 million in contracts to a former board treasurer’s company. Western Contract, a company owned by Bill Yee, who was CapRadio’s board treasurer, secured two deals with CapRadio, the first for about $126,000 and the second for roughly $992,000. Records show Yee offered personal favors to Jun Reina, who was CapRadio’s chief financial officer, while brokering these transactions and succeeded in bypassing the competitive bid process.

California – Nonprofit Wins Ruling Over S.F. in Bribery Probe; City Officials Call Decision ‘Bizarre’

Yahoo News – Michael Barba (San Francisco Chronicle) | Published: 10/9/2025

A San Francisco nonprofit accused of misappropriating public dollars and bribing a former city official will not be barred from doing business with the city, an official ruled in the administrative case against the organization. The ruling by hearing officer Andrea McGary in the case against Collective Impact is the first significant legal decision in the yearslong episode surrounding the nonprofit and its ties to Sheryl Davis, the former executive director of the San Francisco Human Rights Commission.

Colorado – Denver Board of Ethics ‘Appalled’ by Denver International Airport Spending on Overseas Conference

MSN – Brian Maass (KCNC) | Published: 10/3/2025

The city’s Board of Ethics cleared Denver International Airport and its chief executive officer, Phil Washington, of an ethics violation related to a trip to a conference in Madrid earlier this year. But the board said it was “appalled by both the amount of funds that were expended for this conference and by Mr. Washington’s seemingly cavalier attitude in responding to this complaint.”

Connecticut – Kosta Diamantis Bribery Trial Begins Following Multiyear Probe

Connecticut Public Radio – Andrew Brown (CT Mirror) | Published: 10/6/2025

The federal criminal trial of Konstantinos Diamantis, a former state deputy budget director who is accused of using his position overseeing Connecticut’s school building program to solicit tens of thousands of dollars in bribes from construction contractors, has begun. The trial is the culmination of a nearly four-year investigation into Diamantis, a former Democratic lawmaker who climbed to the highest levels of the state government before he became the target of the criminal probe in 2021.

District of Columbia – The Trump-Epstein Statue Is Back on the National Mall, Days After Its Abrupt Removal

NPR – Rachel Treisman | Published: 10/3/2025

A statue of President Trump skipping hand-in-hand with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has returned to the District of Columbia’s National Mall, over a week after it was abruptly removed in the pre-dawn hours. Trump has sought to downplay his friendship with the disgraced financier, who died in jail in August 2019.

Hawaii – Senator Voted for Bills Backed by Lobbyists He’s Going to Work For

Honolulu Civil Beat – Chad Blair and Blaze Lovell | Published: 10/5/2025

State Sen. Henry Aquino is stepping down to go to work for one of the biggest lobbying firms in the state after serving in the Hawaii Legislature for 17 years. In the 2025 legislative session, Hawaii Public Policy Advocates backed two dozen bills before Aquino’s Labor and Technology Committee, which voted to approve more than a third of them. It is Aquino’s legislative experience that may be of the most interest to a business like Hawaii Public Policy Advocates with wide-ranging interests.

Hawaii – Dark Money Group Blankets Maui in Ads to Influence Vacation Rental Bill

Honolulu Civil Beat – Erin Nolan | Published: 10/7/2025

For months, a District of Columbia-based group called Progress Action has been spending thousands of dollars to inundate Maui residents with radio and online advertisements warning that Mayor Richard Bissen’s plan to phase out about half the island’s short-term rentals would be “a failure and a mistake.” Records that are available indicate Progress Action is a PAC or nonprofit that is effectively skirting state campaign finance laws and lobbying disclosure requirements that could normally provide greater transparency.

Illinois – Illinois Sues to Block Trump’s National Guard Deployment to Chicago

MSN – Ben Szalinski, Brenden Moore, and Hannah Meisel (Capitol News Illinois) | Published: 10/6/2025

Illinois and Chicago filed a federal lawsuit to block the Trump administration’s planned deployment of National Guard troops to the state, a move Gov. JB Pritzker called an “invasion.” Trump pushed forward with the plan to activate hundreds of National Guard soldiers, including some from Texas, despite monthslong opposition from state and local leaders, as well as objections from civic and business groups in the city.

Illinois – Supreme Court Poised to Revive GOP Congressman’s Absentee Ballot Suit That Could Spur More Election Litigation

MSN – John Fritze (CNN) | Published: 10/8/2025

A majority of the Supreme Court indicated it will back a Republican member of Congress from Illinois who is challenging a state law that allows mail ballots to be received after Election Day, a decision that would let him proceed with a potentially explosive lawsuit that lower courts had rejected. Rep. Michael Bost’s appeal is not focused on the ballot issue itself but rather it raises the question of whether federal candidates may sue over election regulations, even if, as in Bost’s case, they represent a safe district and are highly favored to win election.

Illinois – Chicago Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin Will Pay $30,000 to Settle Ethics Cases

Yahoo News – Gregory Royal Pratt (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 10/2/2025

Chicago Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin will pay a $30,000 fine to settle two ethics cases stemming from findings that she misused taxpayer resources for personal and political purposes and improperly fired whistleblowers. The Chicago Board of Ethics found Conyears-Ervin violated the city’s ethics ordinance 12 times and issued the maximum fine of $60,000, or $5,000 per breach.

Indiana – Undisclosed Conflicts, Contracts with Donors, Lavish Travel: What the IEDC audit found

Yahoo News – Kayla Dwyer and Hayleigh Colombo (Indianapolis Star) | Published: 10/2/2025

Gov. Mike Braun’s administration unveiled the results of an audit into the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC), the quasi-governmental organization that drives economic strategy for Indiana, finding a “lack of transparency and accountability in the management of state funds” by third parties and raising concerns about “the potential for favoritism and misuse of public funds.” Some areas of concern overlap with the findings in an Indianapolis Star investigation, which unveiled that a top executive at the IEDC was part of decisions to award millions in grant money to entities he or two of his business associates were involved in.

Iowa – ICE Arrest Reveals Hidden Past of an Iowa Schools Superintendent

MSN – Marianne LeVine (Washington Post) | Published: 10/5/2025

When the Des Moines School Board announced former Olympic athlete Ian Roberts as superintendent in 2023, he was praised as a “career educator” and a “proven champion for creating equitable opportunities for all students to thrive.” Now, his tenure at Iowa’s largest school district has come to an abrupt end. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested Roberts, surprising the education world by revealing him as an undocumented immigrant with a final order of deportation.

Kansas – Wichita City Council Candidate Returns Campaign Cash Amid Confusion Over Finance Rules

MSN – Chance Swaim (Wichita Eagle) | Published: 10/7/2025

The Kansas Legislature voted in March to increase limits for political contributions from $500 to $2,000 for large city elections, and Gov. Laura Kelly signed it into law in early April. But a Wichita city ordinance that was in place before the changes caps contributions for city council candidates at $500. The conflicting rules have led to controversy.

Massachusetts – Mike Kennealy Plans to Continue Ignoring Mass. Loan Limit Law, Lawyer Tells Regulators

MSN – Chris Van Buskirk (Boston Herald) | Published: 10/7/2025

Gubernatorial hopeful Mike Kennealy plans to continue ignoring a Massachusetts law that limits the amount of cash a candidate for governor can loan themselves for each election, even after regulators asked him multiple times to reclassify hundreds of thousands of dollars that he has loaned his campaign. Kennealy pledged to seed his campaign with $2 million in loans. But the loans, including $200,000 he recently gave his campaign, have started to draw scrutiny from state regulators because of a law that limits candidate loans to $200,000 per election cycle.

Michigan – Oakland Co. Executive Moves to Strengthen Ethics Policies Among Officials After Backlash

Detroit News – Max Bryan | Published: 10/3/2025

Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter is moving to strengthen the county’s ethics policies after backlash about the chair of the board of commissioners working as a paid outside consultant for private firms and a contract that was awarded to a county employee. Coulter’s announcement comes after some county commissioners and Oakland County residents raised concerns about Board of Commissioners Chairperson Dave Woodward working as a paid consultant for Sheetz.

Oklahoma – Oklahoma Ethics Commission Investigating Ryan Walters Again Over Possible Ethics Violations

MSN – Nolan Clay (Oklahoman) | Published: 10/7/2025

The Oklahoma Ethics Commission is investigating Ryan Walters – again. Walters resigned as state schools superintendent recently to become the chief executive officer of a new nonprofit organization called the Teacher Freedom Alliance. The commission revealed it is actively investigating potential violations of its conflict of interest rule “as related to … Walters’ departure.”

Oklahoma – Oklahoma Campaign Finance Site Offline for Weeks as State Revamps System

Yahoo News – Alex Gladden (Oklahoman) | Published: 10/4/2025

Oklahoma’s website for campaign finance reports remains offline after a new launch of the site fell behind schedule. Lee Anne Bruce Boone, the executive director of the state Ethics Commission, has not yet said when the system will be back online.

Oregon – Judge Deals Trump New Setback in Plans to Deploy Troops to Portland

MSN – Holly Bailey, Praveena Somasundaram, Joseph Menn, and Aaron Schaffer (Washington Post) | Published: 10/6/2025

A federal judge dealt another blow to the Trump administration’s plans to send troops to Portland, temporarily blocking hundreds of California National Guard members as they were deploying to Oregon’s biggest city over objections from Democratic governors in both states. U.S. District Court Judge Karin Immergut said the government appeared to be directly defying her previous temporary restraining order from a day earlier blocking the administration from sending Oregon’s National Guard to the city by instead deploying members of California’s Guard.

Texas – Former Lawmaker Sent $450K in Unspent Funds to His Own Charity

MSN – Taylor Goldenstein (Houston Chronicle) | Published: 10/7/2025

Like many outgoing members of the Texas House, Rep. Chris Paddie in 2022 still had unspent campaign money he would need to offload in the coming years – in his case, $450,000. Under state law, he could either return that money to donors, give it to political causes, donate it to a charity, or surrender it to the state treasury. Paddie opted for charity, but not just any. The same day he resigned, he filed paperwork to launch his own nonprofit, and three weeks later he transferred $450,000 to the newly formed Paddie Family Foundation.

Texas – Texas GOP Lawyer and Former FEC Chair Trey Trainor Announces Run for Chip Roy’s Seat in Congress

MSN – Gabby Birenbaum (Texas Tribune) | Published: 10/6/2025

Trey Trainor, a longtime Republican operative and former chairperson of the FEC, launched a bid for the 21st Congressional District in Texas, setting up a competitive GOP primary for the open seat. Trainor, who has decades of experience in the state’s conservative legal movement, is running to succeed Rep. Chip Roy, who is giving up his seat to run for Texas attorney general. The district is situated in the Hill Country and contains parts of Austin and San Antonio.

Texas – Majority of Harris County Commissioners’ Campaign Dollars Come from People Whose Contracts They Approve

Yahoo News – John Lomax V and Matt Zdun (Houston Chronicle) | Published: 10/5/2025

A Houston Chronicle analysis of campaign finance reports from January 1 to June 30 of this year indicates that Harris County commissioners’ campaigns are funded largely through contributions made by individuals and businesses that contract or work with the county. Commissioners are not directly involved in awarding contracts, but they do vote to approve contracts presented at meetings. Support from at least three of the five commissioners is also needed to hire or fire department heads, who have a more direct hand in selecting county contracts.

Utah – Lawmakers in Utah Pass New Congressional Map Aimed at Preserving GOP Power

MSN – Patrick Marley and Patrick Svitek (Washington Post) | Published: 10/6/2025

Republican lawmakers in Utah adopted a GOP-leaning congressional map, diminishing Democrats’ hopes of gaining a House seat in the conservative state. The Legislature was compelled to redraw its map after a judge ruled the one it approved four years ago violated the state constitution. Democrats hoped the ruling would give them an advantage in one of the state’s four House seats, which are all held by Republicans. The new map, which still needs court approval, could result in more competitive races, but the GOP retained an advantage in all four districts.

Vermont – Vermont’s Legislators Don’t Have to Disclose Gifted Trips

Seven Days – Hannah Bassett | Published: 10/8/2025

Five state representatives from Vermont were among 250 lawmakers from around the country that attended a conference in Israel that promised to offer an “in-depth exploration of Israel’s leadership, society, heritage and spirit of innovation,” according to the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The ministry paid the participants’ expenses of $6,500 per person. Despite its high price tag and Israel’s effort to woo participants, neither the Vermont lawmakers nor the foreign ministry were required to disclose anything about the trip or the gifts provided to make it possible, such as compensated airfare, hotel stays, or meals.

Virginia – Democratic Candidate’s ‘Abhorrent’ Texts Threaten to Shake Up Bellwether Virginia Elections

MSN – Gregory Svirnovskiy (Politico) | Published: 10/4/2025

A string of text messages from Jay Jones, Virginia’s Democratic nominee for attorney general, where he mused about violence directed toward a political rival is triggering widespread backlash and threatening to shake up the state’s November election. In August 2022, Jones wrote about shooting then-Virginia House Speaker Todd Gilbert in text messages he sent to state Del. Carrie Coyner. Jones publicly apologized for the messages.

Virginia – Financial Disclosure Gaps, Questionable Gifts Cloud Earle-Sears’ Bid for Governor

Yahoo News – Markus Schmidt (Virginia Mercury) | Published: 10/8/2025

Virginia gubernatorial nominee Winsome Earle-Sears built her political brand on transparency and accountability. Her public filings reveals a pattern of omissions and inconsistencies in her financial disclosures, including a $12,000 “gift” far above the state’s legal limit. The records show Earle-Sears, who has served as lieutenant governor since 2022, repeatedly failed to disclose gifts and travel benefits as required under state law, and in several instances amended her filings only after watchdogs or reporters raised questions.

Wisconsin – Wisconsin GOP Bill Aims to Clamp Down on Credit Card Campaign Contributions

Wisconsin Public Radio – Rich Kremer | Published: 10/9/2025

Republican lawmakers in Wisconsin are pushing a bill to bar any political party or candidate from accepting online credit card donations unless the contributor provides a verification code and U.S. address. The bill is part of growing right-wing scrutiny of the Democratic fundraising juggernaut ActBlue, fueled in large part by President Trump. ActBlue has called the allegations politically motivated.

October 9, 2025 • Written by Jim Sedor

Thursday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Elections Illinois: “Supreme Court Poised to Revive GOP Congressman’s Absentee Ballot Suit That Could Spur More Election Litigation” by John Fritze (CNN) for MSN Texas: “Texas GOP Lawyer and Former FEC Chair Trey Trainor Announces Run for Chip Roy’s Seat […]

October 8, 2025 • Written by Jim Sedor

Wednesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance Kansas: “Wichita City Council Candidate Returns Campaign Cash Amid Confusion Over Finance Rules” by Chance Swaim (Wichita Eagle) for MSN Massachusetts: “Mike Kennealy Plans to Continue Ignoring Mass. Loan Limit Law, Lawyer Tells Regulators” by Chris Van Buskirk (Boston Herald) for MSN […]

October 7, 2025 • Written by Jim Sedor

Tuesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance National: “Justice Department Takes Case Against Trump Supporter to Trial” by James Fanelli (Wall Street Journal) for MSN Oklahoma: “Oklahoma Campaign Finance Site Offline for Weeks as State Revamps System” by Alex Gladden (Oklahoman) for Yahoo News Ethics California: “Favors & Deals at […]

October 6, 2025 • Written by Jim Sedor

Monday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance Texas: “Majority of Harris County Commissioners’ Campaign Dollars Come from People Whose Contracts They Approve” by John Lomax V and Matt Zdun (Houston Chronicle) for Yahoo News Ethics Washington DC: “The Trump-Epstein Statue Is Back on the National […]

October 3, 2025 • Written by Jim Sedor

News You Can Use Digest – October 3, 2025

National/Federal Congressional Conflicts: Lawmakers dump Tylenol stock before autism controversy MSN – Mark Stricherz (Center Square) | Published: 9/29/2025 Before President Trump warned pregnant women to avoid taking Tylenol, three members of Congress dumped stock in the company that makes […]

National/Federal

Congressional Conflicts: Lawmakers dump Tylenol stock before autism controversy

MSN – Mark Stricherz (Center Square) | Published: 9/29/2025

Before President Trump warned pregnant women to avoid taking Tylenol, three members of Congress dumped stock in the company that makes the popular painkiller, sell-offs that saved them from incurring sizable losses, a media investigation found. The lawmakers sold $1,001 to $15,000 each in Kenvue, a consumer products company that spun off from Johnson & Johnson two years ago. The sales are notable also because most investment analysts recommended that investors hold their shares.

White House Considers Funding Advantage for Colleges That Align with Trump Policies

MSN – Laura Meckler and Susan Svrluga (Washington Post) | Published: 9/28/2025

The White House is developing a plan that could change how universities are awarded research grants, giving a competitive advantage to schools that pledge to adhere to the values and policies of the Trump administration on admissions, hiring, and other matters. The new system would represent a shift away from the unprecedented wave of investigations and punishments being delivered to individual schools and toward an effort to bring large swaths of colleges into compliance with Trump priorities all at once.

Trump Asks Supreme Court to Decide Whether He Can End Birthright Citizenship

MSN – Devan Cole and John Fritze (CNN) | Published: 9/26/2025

The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court to review the constitutionality of President Trump’s executive order seeking to end birthright citizenship, pushing the issue before the justices for the second time this year. While the Supreme Court handed down a decision in June that dealt with birthright citizenship, that case was technically focused on a more procedural question of how much power lower courts had to stop a policy implemented by a president.

Trump Administration Moves to Defund Inspector General Watchdog Group

MSN – Meryl Kornfierld (Washington Post) | Published: 9/30/2025

The Trump administration plans to end funding for an oversight group that helps inspectors general root out waste, fraud, and abuse, marking the latest example of Trump’s drive to limit federal watchdog activities. The Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency is the umbrella organization for 72 inspectors general across government. It acts as a watchdog of the watchdogs, providing training, peer reviews, and cross-agency oversight work for inspectors general. It also runs oversight.gov, where whistleblowers can disclose wrongdoing and inspector general reports are shared publicly.

A New Lawsuit Alleges the Gun Industry Exploited Firearm Owners’ Data for Political Gain

MSN – Corey Johnson (ProPublica) | Published: 9/25/2025

Two major law firms accused the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) of violating the privacy rights of millions of gun owners by running a decades-long program that sent their information to political operatives without consent. The complaint asks the court for approval of class-action status and requests financial damages against the NSSF, claiming the gun industry lobbying group enriched itself by exploiting valuable gun buyer information for political gain.

Trump Administration Illegally Targeted Pro-Palestinian Protesters, Judge Rules

MSN – Joanna Slater (Washington Post) | Published: 9/30/2025

The Trump administration’s push earlier this year to arrest and deport international students for their pro-Palestinian activism was illegal, U.S. District Court Judge William Young ruled, calling the crackdown a “truly scandalous and unconstitutional suppression of free speech.” He said he would decide an appropriate remedy for the Trump administration’s conduct after a future hearing. The case brought by a union of university professors accused the administration of having an unconstitutional policy of deporting people based on their political views.

Lawmakers Across the Country This Year Blocked Ethics Reforms Meant to Increase Public Trust

MSN – Gabriel Sandoval (ProPublica) | Published: 10/1/2025

At a time when the bounds of government ethics are being stretched in Washington, D.C., hundreds of ethics-related bills were introduced this year in state Legislatures. Democratic and Republican lawmakers tried to push through bills to tighten gift limits, toughen conflict-of-interest provisions, or expand financial disclosure reporting requirements. While legislation strengthening ethics oversight did pass in some places, lawmakers across multiple states targeted or thwarted reforms.

Supreme Court Allows Lisa Cook to Remain on Fed Board for Now

MSN – Justin Jouvenal and Andrew Ackerman (Washington Post) | Published: 10/1/2025

The Supreme Court ruled Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook can remain in her job for now and announced it will take up a high-stakes case over President Trump’s attempt to remove her from the central bank. The court will hear arguments in the case in January, and its temporary ruling will last at least until then. The provisional ruling to allow Cook to keep her job signals hesitation from at least some of the justices regarding the president’s aggressive campaign to oust Cook and gain tighter control over the Federal Reserve.

Government Agencies Are Blaming the Shutdown on Democrats. Ethics Experts Say It Could Be Against the Law.

MSN – Faith Wardell (Politico) | Published: 10/1/2025

Agencies across the federal government are explicitly blaming Democrats for the government shutdown, from banners on top of public websites to suggested out-of-office messages for federal employees, in an unusually overt show of partisan messaging that some ethics experts say may violate federal law. The deluge of statements began hours before the shutdown with a single red pop-up posted to the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s website. “The radical left are going to shut down the government,” the page read.

Judge Blocks Kari Lake from Laying Off Over 500 Voice of America Staffers

MSN – Scott Nover (Washington Post) | Published: 9/30/2025

U.S. District Court Judge Royce Lamberth temporarily blocked the layoffs of more than 500 Voice of America employees, delivering a setback to the Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle the United States’ international broadcasting agency. The order comes amid a protracted legal battle over whether the administration’s gutting of the U.S. Agency for Global Media violates federal broadcasting law.

White House Withdraws Controversial Pick to Lead Bureau of Labor Statistics

MSN – Lauren Kaori Gurley, Emily Davies, and Andrew Ackerman (Washington Post) | Published: 9/30/2025

The White House withdrew its nomination of E.J. Antoni to lead the Bureau of Labor Statistics. President Trump chose Antoni to replace the former commissioner, Erika McEntarfer, a Biden appointee, who was fired by the president hours after the release of weak jobs data. Trump claimed, without evidence, that data produced under her watch was “rigged.” Antoni’s nomination drew criticism from Democrats and both liberal and conservative economists because of his partisan views and lack of experience.

Supreme Court Allows Trump Officials to Freeze Billions in Foreign Aid

MSN – Justin Jouvenal (Washington Post) | Published: 9/26/2025

The Supreme Court cleared the way for the Trump administration to freeze more than $4 billion in foreign aid, a victory for the president’s push to exert greater control over federal spending. The justices lifted a preliminary injunction from a federal judge who found the president had usurped Congress’s power of the purse by refusing to spend billions of dollars it had budgeted for food, medicine, and development around the world.

With Comey Prosecution, Trump Fulfills Promise of Revenge

MSN – Patrick Marley (Washington Post) | Published: 9/26/2025

Soon after a federal grand jury indicted former FBI Director James Comey, President Trump declared “JUSTICE IN AMERICA!” in a social media post, following up with a post calling Comey a “destroyer of lives” and “A DIRTY COP.” Trump’s predecessors sought to distance themselves from the Justice Department’s prosecutorial decisions, declining to weigh in on pending cases. Trump, in contrast, openly intervened in the Comey case, pushing out a prosecutor who declined to bring charges, replacing him with an ally and publicly demanding that Attorney General Pam Bondi act.

Nexstar and Sinclair Bring Jimmy Kimmel’s Show Back to Local TV Stations

Yahoo News – Wyatte Granham-Phillips and Andrew Dalton (Associated Press) | Published: 9/26/2025

Nexstar Media Group and Sinclair Broadcast Group brought Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night talk show back to their local television stations, ending a dayslong TV blackout for dozens of cities across the U.S. Kimmel’s suspension lasted less than a week, while the affiliate blackout stood for just over a week.

Why K Street Is Now Living in Fear of Trump’s Retribution Campaign

Yahoo News – Caitlin Oprysko, Brendan Bordelon, and Yasmin Khorram (Politico) | Published: 9/30/2025

Much of the private sector is paralyzed by President Trump’s broader efforts to leverage the might of the government to bend companies to his whims. But that pressure is magnified in government affairs shops across Washington, where corporations are desperate to curry Trump’s favor and avoid his wrath. The job market is so precarious in the Trump era that it has been tough for even moderate Republicans to get land a big influence job on K Street, let alone Democrats, said Jeff Forbes, a founding partner at the lobbying firm Forbes Tate Partners.

From the States and Municipalities

Alabama – Alabama Ethics Commission Issues Guidance on ‘Revolving Door’ Provisions

Alabama Reflector – Ralph Chapoco (Alabama Reflector) | Published: 10/2/2025

The Alabama Ethics Commission said former public officials and employees may accept employment after leaving government from businesses they or their employers dealt with as public officials, provided they do not lobby for them. The decision permits Gary Fuller, the outgoing mayor of the city of Opelika, and Micah Williamson, a former rehabilitation specialist with the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services, to take positions with third-party firms without violating “revolving door” provisions of the ethics law.

Arizona – She Didn’t Report Paying Her Fiancé Public Campaign Cash. Now This Dem Faces Penalties

USA Today – Ray Stern (Arizona Republic) | Published: 9/28/2025

Arizona campaign finance officials rejected a proposed $7,000 sanction for a state lawmaker who flouted the law while paying her fiancé with public campaign cash, with one official saying Rep. Anna Abeytia should pay a larger fine. The sanction proposed by the Citizens Clean Elections Commission for Abeytia included a $5,000 fine for ignoring campaign finance reports and inquiries by the commission during the runup to her successful 2024 election.

Arizona – Conservatives Say Charlie Kirk Shooting Shows Need for Anonymous Political Spending

Yahoo News – Taylor Seely (Arizona Republic) | Published: 9/28/2025

The day after conservative political leader and Arizona resident Charlie Kirk was assassinated, leaders from Christian, conservative, and libertarian non-profits stood outside the Arizona Supreme Court with a sign. “STOP DONOR DOXING,” it read. Attorneys and leaders spoke about Kirk and how his death underscored the need to allow people to make anonymous donations to political campaigns. The state’s high court had just heard arguments over whether to overturn the Voters’ Right to Know Act.

Arizona – AZ Supreme Court Allows GOP Lawmakers to Challenge Voter-Approved Dark Money Disclosure Law

Yahoo News – Jerod MacDonald-Evoy (Arizona Mirror) | Published: 9/29/2025

The legal battle over a voter-approved anti-dark-money law passed in 2022 will continue as the Arizona Supreme Court said Republican lawmakers have a right to legally challenge the law but did not rule on its constitutionality. The decision comes as the court has been weighing another challenge to the law brought by proponents of anonymous campaign spending who are challenging its constitutionality. The ruling was on a case brought by GOP lawmakers who claim that the voter-approved proposition takes away their legislative powers, violating the state constitution.

California – Newsom Signs Elections Bills Allowing Public Financing, Curbing Voting Incentives

MSN – Lia Russell (Sacramento Bee) | Published: 10/2/2025

Californians will vote next year on an initiative to repeal a ban on public financing in elections and another that prohibits offering payouts or other incentives to people for registering to vote. Several charter cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles have public financing, but after former Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation in 2016 expanding the practice, courts ruled voters would need to approve lifting a statewide ban on public financing that was voted on by a ballot initiative in the 1980s.

California – Company Wins $1.9 Million Verdict in Baldwin Park Cannabis Corruption Scandal

MSN – Jason Henry (San Gabriel Valley Tribune) | Published: 9/22/2025

A company that purchased a cannabis license connected to a bribery scheme set up by Baldwin Park officials won a $1.9 million verdict. A jury determined that former City Attorney Robert Tafoya, Councilmember Manny Lozano and former city council member Ricardo Pacheco committed fraud and are personally liable for $1.6 million of the total. The city of Baldwin Park is on the hook for an additional $290,000 for “negligence,” according to the jury’s verdict.

California – LAHSA Adopts Conflict of Interest Policy After LAist Exposes Ethics GapsLAHSA Adopts Conflict of Interest Policy After LAist Exposes Ethics Gaps

MSN – Aaron Schrank (LAist) | Published: 9/26/2025

The top homelessness agency for the Los Angeles region approved its first-ever conflict-of-interest policy months after reporting revealed the agency’s chief executive officer signed contracts with a nonprofit tied to her husband. The new policy says Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority officials with real or perceived conflicts will no longer be named on contract signature lines.

California – Oakland School Board Director Faces Up to $95,000 in Ethics Penalties

MSN – Ashley McBride (Oaklandside) | Published: 10/1/2025

Oakland Unified school board director Mike Hutchinson is facing 19 ethics violations over his failure to file campaign finance disclosures for his unsuccessful 2016 campaign for the school board. According to a report prepared by the commission’s enforcement chief, he failed to file a key disclosure form for his 2016 campaign. City records show Hutchinson’s 2016 campaign only submitted various incomplete versions of Form 410, which candidates and committees file to set up their campaign accounts. As Hutchinson has not yet closed the campaign account, the filing failures have piled up.

Florida – Florida Officials Vote to Donate Land to Trump Library. There’s Backlash.

MSN – Lori Rozsa (Washington Post) | Published: 9/30/2025

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and his cabinet voted to donate a prime piece of land in downtown Miami – next to the iconic Freedom Tower – for the Donald J. Trump Presidential Library. The vote came after a surprise move by the DeSantis administration to take over the vacant lot from Miami Dade College. The plan drew immediate backlash from many in Miami’s Cuban American community, who say the tower, known as the “Ellis Island of the South,” represents the opposite of Trump’s mass deportation campaign and tough immigration policies.

Nevada – Court Rules Trump’s U.S. Attorney in Nevada Was Unlawfully Appointed

MSN – Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) | Published: 9/30/2025

A federal judge disqualified President Trump’s pick for U.S. attorney in Nevada, ruling she had been unlawfully appointed. It is the second court ruling in as many months to cast doubt on the Justice Department’s novel strategy for retaining the president’s most controversial appointees in top prosecutorial roles. The judge concluded that Sigal Chattah, who was appointed interim U.S. attorney in March, had served beyond the 120-day expiration date for that role and Trump administration efforts to keep her past that deadline did not withstand legal scrutiny.

New Jersey – NJ Teachers Union Misused Dues to Fund Chief’s Bid for Governor, Lawsuit Claims

Yahoo News – Nikita Biryukov (New Jersey Monitor) | Published: 9/30/2025

Two public school teachers are suing the New Jersey Education Association, alleging the teachers’ union violated the law when it funneled $40 million to former union president Sean Spiller’s gubernatorial campaign this spring. The suit alleges the union improperly used dues it said would not fund its political committees to fuel the independent expenditure groups that backed Spiller’s failed bid for the Democratic nod for governor.

New Jersey – Archives Released Too Much of Sherrill’s Military Record to GOP Rival’s Allies

Yahoo News – James LaPorta (CBS News) | Published: 9/26/2025

A branch of the National Archives released a mostly unredacted version of U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill’s military records to Nicholas De Gregorio, an ally of Jack Ciattarelli, her Republican opponent in the New Jersey governor’s race. The disclosure potentially violates the Privacy Act of 1974 and exemptions established under the Freedom of Information Act.

New York – Super PACs Pay $900,000 to Settle Inquiry Tied to Zeldin, Head of EPA

Breaking One – Nicholas Fandos, Shane Goldmacher, and Maggie Haberman (New York Times) | Published: 9/25/2025

Two Republican super PACs paid nearly $1 million to quietly settle an inquiry into whether they illicitly coordinated with the campaign of Lee Zeldin during his 2022 run for governor of New York. The state’s top elections watchdog spent years investigating the matter, using subpoenas to try to show there was illegal overlap between the Zeldin campaign and two groups that spent $20 million supporting it, Save Our State Inc. and Safe Together New York. The fine is the largest ever paid in a super PAC coordination case in New York.

New York – NY AG James Turns to Legal Defense Fund Amid Scrutiny from Trump DOJ

Gothamist – Jimmy Vielkind | Published: 9/29/2025

New York Attorney General Letitia James is turning to a national Democratic group to fund her legal defense as prosecutors appointed by President Trump investigate and bring charges against his adversaries. James, a Democrat, won a 2023 fraud judgement against the president that cast doubt on Trump’s claims to be a brilliant businessperson. The Democratic Attorneys General Association said contributions would be routed through a 527 organization and would be disclosed in an annual filing. That kind of organization can accept unlimited donations in order to influence policies, appointments, or elections.

New York – Eric Adams Grinds on in Quest for Public Campaign Dollars

MSN – Greg Smith (The City) | Published: 9/29/2025

New York City Mayor Eric Adams may have thrown in the towel on his reelection fight, but he is still demanding millions of taxpayer dollars worth of campaign matching funds to pay off outstanding bills from his now defunct campaign. He is doing that while facing the very real possibility the Campaign Finance Board, which has been denying him these funds for months, may go a step further and move to recapture millions of dollars it had approved for him in his 2021 campaign.

New York – Good Government Groups: N.Y. lobbyists must be mandated to report campaign contributions

Spectrum News – Kate Lisa | Published: 1/26/2025

Good-government groups want New York Gov. Kathy Hochul to get behind a push supported by the state’s ethics watchdog to require lobbyists to disclose their political contributions to campaigns. A coalition of ethics advocates urged members of the Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government to back a proposal to close the campaign finance loophole during a public hearing in New York City. The group is weighing more than 40 proposals to strengthen state ethics and lobbying laws for its 2026 legislative agenda.

New York – Eric Adams Ends Reelection Campaign

Yahoo News – Joe Anuta and Jeff Coltin (Politico) | Published: 9/28/2025

New York City Mayor Eric Adams said he is ending his reelection campaign, a move that virtually ensures he will lose in November and seals his fate as the city’s first one-term mayor since David Dinkins. The mayor blamed city election officials, lingering concerns over a since-dismissed federal bribery case and the media for undermining his effort to secure a second term.

North Carolina – Former NCGOP Director to Lead ‘Election Integrity’ Efforts, Serve as Election Board Liaison, Says NC Auditor

MSN – Will Doran (WRAL) | Published: 9/26/2025

The leaders of all 100 county election boards in North Carolina will now report to and be trained by Dallas Woodhouse, a longtime Republican Party operative, state Auditor Dave Boliek told some county elections officials. Woodhouse, who led the state GOP from 2015 to 2019, most recently worked as the North Carolina director for the group American Majority. That group explicitly describes its goal: to help Republicans and hurt Democrats in elections.

Ohio – Ohio Redistricting Process Hits Dead End as Republicans Play Waiting Game

MSN – Jeremy Pelzer (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 9/30/2025

The first phase of Ohio’s latest congressional redistricting process ended in gridlock, with increasing signs that Republicans intend to wait out the process so they can redraw the state’s 15 congressional districts without Democratic support. September 30 was a state constitutional deadline for the Republican-controlled Legislature to pass a map with bipartisan support. But as a joint legislative redistricting committee wrapped up its work, the panel’s Republican co-chair said his party has not even put together any redistricting plan yet.

Oklahoma – Oklahoma Senators Consider Foreign Agent Disclosure Rules Amid China Influence Concerns

MSN – Alexia Aston (Oklahoman) | Published: 9/30/2025

State lawmakers could consider legislation or ethics rules that would require people in Oklahoma advocating on behalf of a foreign entity, country, organization, or individual to disclose their relationship with that entity. During an interim study session in the Senate Judiciary Committee, senators considered ways to establish the state’s own version of the Foreign Agents Registration Act.

Oregon – Trump Calls for Troops in Portland, Escalating Use of Military Inside U.S.

MSN – Michael Birnbaum, Dan Lamothe, and Todd Frankel (Washington Post) | Published: 9/27/2025

President Trump said he will send troops to Portland, Oregon, and to immigration detention facilities around the country, authorizing “Full Force, if necessary” and escalating a campaign to use the U.S. military against Americans that has little modern precedent. The announcement appeared likely to set up a first test for a White House effort targeting left-wing protest groups. It came just days after Trump signed an executive order directing the nation’s full counterterrorism apparatus against domestic political opponents despite long precedent restricting such a move.

Rhode Island – New Limits on Gifts for Lawmakers and Who Can Give Them Are Coming in the New Year

Yahoo News – Alexander Castro (Rhode Island Current) | Published: 9/30/2025

The Rhode Island Ethics Commission approved two proposed rule changes regarding gifts to public officials. The first change increases the gift cap for public officials, who will soon be able to receive $50 single gifts, or $150 worth of gifts in aggregate in one year, from the same person. The other measure widens the ethics code’s definition of an “interested person” to include all lobbyists, including ones working on behalf of nonprofits.

Rhode Island – Ethics Commission OKs State Rep’s Bid to Rejoin Court-Appointed Counsel List

Yahoo News – Alexander Castro (Rhode Island Current) | Published: 9/30/2025

The Rhode Island Ethics Commission approved a petition from state Rep. Jason Knight, who is a criminal defense attorney, to apply to rejoin the state judiciary’s roster of court-appointed lawyers available to represent indigent defendants. Commissioners voted to adopt a staff recommendation concluding the ethics code does not disallow Knight from returning to the state Supreme Court’s attorney list. Normally, as an elected official, Knight would be barred while in office and for one year after leaving his elected position.

Texas – Texas Investigation into Teachers’ Posts After Charlie Kirk’s Death Violates Their Free Speech, Experts Say

MSN – Jaden Edison (Texas Tribune) | Published: 9/30/2025

The Texas Education Agency investigation into teachers’ social media comments after Charlie Kirk’s killing has legal experts and public education advocates troubled by what they say amounts to a “witch hunt” that shows a lack of regard for educators’ free speech rights. Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath had sent a letter to superintendents criticizing content he found “reprehensible and inappropriate” and promising to refer such posts to his agency’s investigative unit with a recommendation the instructors have their teaching licenses suspended.

Texas – Dallas City Council Delves Deeper into Ethics Debate, Rejects Nominee to Ethics Board

MSN – Devyani Chhetri (Dallas Morning News) | Published: 10/1/2025

A majority of the Dallas City Council rejected their colleague’s nominee to the ethics advisory commission, citing adversarial online conduct by her husband. Posts and videos by the husband featured caricatures of city officials, sometimes using deepfake artificial intelligence. Natalie LeVeck, council member Bill Roth’s nominee, is a senior counsel at Google and teaches law at Southern Methodist University.

October 2, 2025 • Written by Jim Sedor

Thursday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance New Jersey: “NJ Teachers Union Misused Dues to Fund Chief’s Bid for Governor, Lawsuit Claims” by Nikita Biryukov (New Jersey Monitor) for Yahoo News New York: “Super PACs Pay $900,000 to Settle Inquiry Tied to Zeldin, Head of EPA” by Nicholas Fandos, […]

October 1, 2025 • Written by Jim Sedor

Wednesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance Arizona: “Arizona’s ‘Dark Money’ Law Faces Challenge from Republican Lawmakers” by Howard Fischer (Capitol Media Services) for Arizona Capitol Times New York: “Eric Adams Grinds on in Quest for Public Campaign Dollars” by Greg Smith (The City) for MSN Ethics National: “Trump Administration […]

September 30, 2025 • Written by Jim Sedor

Tuesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance Arizona: “Conservatives Say Charlie Kirk Shooting Shows Need for Anonymous Political Spending” by Taylor Seely (Arizona Republic) for Yahoo News New York: “NY AG James Turns to Legal Defense Fund Amid Scrutiny from Trump DOJ” by Jimmy Vielkind for Gothamist Elections New […]

September 29, 2025 • Written by Jim Sedor

Monday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance Arizona: “Lawmaker Faces Heavy Fines from Clean Elections Commission” by Jakob Thorington for Arizona Capitol Times Elections New York: “Eric Adams Ends Reelection Campaign” by Joe Anuta and Jeff Coltin (Politico) for Yahoo News Ethics California: “LAHSA Adopts […]

September 26, 2025 • Written by Jim Sedor

News You Can Use Digest – September 26, 2025

National/Federal Here’s What Happens When Big-Time Lobbyists Become Big-Name Trump Officials MSN – Caitlin Oprysko (Politico) | Published: 9/21/2025 Before Pam Bondi was sworn in as President Trump’s attorney general, she spent six years as a lobbyist at Ballard, where […]

National/Federal

Here’s What Happens When Big-Time Lobbyists Become Big-Name Trump Officials

MSN – Caitlin Oprysko (Politico) | Published: 9/21/2025

Before Pam Bondi was sworn in as President Trump’s attorney general, she spent six years as a lobbyist at Ballard, where she was a partner in its Washington office and chaired the firm’s corporate regulatory compliance practice focusing on Fortune 500 companies. Among the clients for whom Ballard reported lobbying DOJ this year, all but one signed with the firm since Trump’s election and his nomination of Bondi for attorney general. A similar phenomenon is occurring across K Street at lobbying firms that have former employees in top roles with the Trump administration.

Supreme Court Allows Trump to Fire Democratic Member of Trade Commission

MSN – Justin Jouvenal (Washington Post) | Published: 9/22/2025

The Supreme Court cleared the way for President Trump to fire Rebecca Slaughter, the sole remaining Democrat on the Federal Trade Commission. The ruling, while provisional, is significant because the high court also said it will hear arguments in December on overturning a 90-year-old precedent that allowed Congress to set up independent, nonpartisan agencies insulated from political interference by the president if they do not wield executive power.

Even Without Formal Charges, Trump’s DOJ Can Punish Critics

MSN – Perry Stein and Yvonne Wingett Sanchez (Washington Post) | Published: 9/23/2025

Prosecutors have struggled to build viable cases against Sen. Adam Schiff and other opponents of President Trump for mortgage fraud. Erik Siebert, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, resigned under pressure from the White House after prosecutors in his office said evidence did not support bringing such charges against New York Attorney General Letitia James. Siebert’s resignation, and increasing pressure on prosecutors in other jurisdictions, underscores the administration’s apparent willingness to ignore long-standing rules around criminal investigations to target people perceived to be political opponents.

Supreme Court Poised to Shake Up Midterm Elections

MSN – Jack Birle (Washington Examiner) | Published: 9/22/2025

The Supreme Court will hear three cases in the coming months that could have ramifications for campaigns, elections, and who controls the U.S. House. While the court has yet to schedule its arguments for NRSC v. FEC, the justices’ ruling is slated to have the most immediate effect on campaigns. The FEC’s coordinated spending limits between political parties and candidates have remained in place despite the Supreme Court lifting different limits as unconstitutional in recent years, but the case could open the floodgates to more coordinated spending.

Pentagon Demands Journalists Pledge to Not Obtain Unauthorized Material

MSN – Scott Nover (Washington Post) | Published: 9/19/2025

The Trump administration unveiled a new crackdown on journalists at the Pentagon, saying it will require them to pledge they would not gather any information, even unclassified, that has not been expressly authorized for release. Under the policy, the Pentagon may revoke press passes for anyone it deems a security threat. Possessing confidential or unauthorized information, under the new rules, would be grounds for a journalist’s press pass to be revoked.

Judge Tosses Trump’s $15B Defamation Suit Against New York Times, Penguin Random Hous

MSN – Peter Charalambous (ABC News) | Published: 9/19/2025

A federal judge tossed President Trump’s $15 billion defamation lawsuit against The New York Times and Penguin Random House, calling the complaint “decidedly improper and impermissible.” U.S. District Court Judge Steven Merryday struck the complaint and gave the president’s lawyers 28 days to refile their lawsuit. Merryday said the complaint contains eighty pages of repetitive claims and praise for Trump, but fails to establish the two counts of defamation alleged.

Trump Designates ‘Antifa’ a Terrorist Group, but Experts Say Legality Is Unclear

MSN – Niha Masih, Vivian Ho, and Mariana Alfaro (Washington Post) | Published: 9/22/2025

President Trump signed an executive order designating “antifa,” a decentralized, leftist ideology adhered to by various individuals and groups, as a “domestic terrorist organization,” days after raising the prospect in the wake of conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s fatal shooting. The U.S. has no legal mechanism for labeling domestic organizations as terrorist groups. Experts also said it remains unclear how such a designation would work for a broad movement rather than a distinct group and expressed concern it could be used to justify a crackdown on the political left more generally.

FBI Says It Found Classified Documents in John Bolton’s DC Office

MSN – Josh Gerstein and Kyle Cheney (Politico) | Published: 9/24/2025

FBI agents executing a search warrant at former national security adviser John Bolton’s Washington office turned up documents marked as classified, according to a court filing. Search warrant applications indicated FBI agents were seeking evidence related to three felony offenses, including gathering, transmitting, or losing national defense information in violation of the Espionage Act, and retaining classified information without permission.

Federal Judge Declines to Reinstate Inspectors General Fired by Trump

MSN – Kelly Kasulis Cho (Washington Post) | Published: 9/25/2025

A federal judge declined to reinstate eight inspectors general fired by President Trump as part of a purge of government watchdogs in the early days of his second term, though she agreed the terminations were unlawful. The inspectors general sued Trump in February, claiming they were dismissed illegally. The lawsuit underscored widespread concern that Trump sought to purge federal watchdogs and install loyalists in the crucial role of investigating government agencies for fraud, waste and abuse.

Va. Federal Prosecutors Preparing to Seek Comey Indictment, People Familiar with Matter Say

MSN – Salvador Rizzo, Jeremy Roebuck, and Perry Stein (Washington Post) | Published: 9/24/2025

The Justice Department is preparing to seek an indictment against former FBI Director James Comey for allegedly giving false testimony to Congress. The effort comes days after President Trump demanded prosecutors use the criminal justice system to punish his political opponents. The investigation centers on testimony Comey gave before the Senate Judiciary Committee about the FBI’s missteps in the “Crossfire Hurricane” probe, which had delved into possible but ultimately unproven collaboration between Russia and Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign.

Hobbled Federal Campaign Finance Enforcer Loses Another Member

MSN – Faith Wardwell (Politico) | Published: 9/25/2025

The vice chair of the FEC will resign from his post after five years with the agency, leaving just two commissioners behind as the agency has gone months without quorum. James Trainor said he would step down in October and is “seriously evaluating” a bid to replace the U.S. House seat left vacant by Rep. Chip Roy. Trainor’s departure lands yet another blow to the FEC after another three commissioners departed their roles earlier this year.

New York City May Move Its Mayoral Elections to Even Years. It’d Be Part of a Trend

NPR – Ashley Lopez | Published: 9/24/2025

One of the most closely watched elections this fall is New York City’s mayoral race. But New York voters will also weigh in on a lesser-known proposal that could move future city elections to even-numbered years. It is part of a growing trend to consolidate election dates – adding local races to the ballot during presidential and midterm elections. Proponents of the effort say it counters persistently low turnout for local elections, despite concerns about local issues and candidates getting overshadowed.

Judge Rules Feds Can’t Require States to Cooperate on Immigration to Get Disaster Money

Yahoo News – Michael Casey (Associated Press) | Published: 9/24/2025

A federal judge ruled it is unconstitutional for the Trump administration to require states to cooperate on immigration enforcement actions to get funding for disasters, which is overseen by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. U.S. District Court Judge William Smith found the “contested conditions are arbitrary and capricious” and the actions are unconstitutional because they are “coercive, ambiguous, unrelated to the purpose of the federal grants.”

Jimmy Kimmel Advocates for Free Speech, Slams FCC Chair in Late-Night Return

Yahoo News – Emily Yahr (Washington Post) | Published: 9/24/2025

Jimmy Kimmel returned to late-night television to a standing ovation from his studio audience as he talked about the controversy that saw his show temporarily removed from ABC’s airwaves after comments he made about the killing of right-wing influencer Charlie Kirk. Kimmel thanked many people for their support and delivered a passionate call for free speech. He said he was moved to see people on both sides of the aisle criticize what appeared to be the head of a government agency suggesting that he would attempt to shut down or censor the show of a comedian he did not like.

Tom Homan Was Investigated for Accepting $50,000 from Undercover FBI Agents. Trump’s DOJ Shut It Down.

Yahoo News – Carol Leonnig and Ken Dilanian (MSNBC) | Published: 9/20/2025

In an undercover operation last year, the FBI recorded Tom Homan, now the White House border czar, accepting $50,000 in cash after indicating he could help the agents, who were posing as business executives, win government contracts in a second Trump administration. The FBI and the Justice Department planned to wait to see whether Homan would deliver on his alleged promise once he became the nation’s top immigration official. But in recent weeks, Trump appointees officially closed the investigation, after FBI Director Kash Patel requested a status update on the case.

Ryan Routh Found Guilty of Trying to Assassinate Donald Trump at Florida Golf Course

Yahoo News – Christopher Cann, Julius Whigham II, and Hannah Phillips (USA Today) | Published: 9/23/2025

A jury found Ryan Routh guilty of trying to kill Donald Trump at one of his Florida golf courses last year. Routh was convicted of attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate, a charge carrying a possible sentence of life in prison. Authorities said Routh armed himself with a rifle outside the fence of Trump International Golf Club and waited over 11 hours for Trump to walk into his line of sight. Prosecutors say the plot was thwarted by a Secret Service agent who spotted Routh and opened fire, leading him to drop his rifle.

From the States and Municipalities

Canada – Edmonton Event Held for Liberal Ministers, MPs Raised Concern Over Lobbying Rules

iAsk.ca – Stephanie Levitz and Robert Fife (Globe and Mail) | Published: 9/18/2025

A real estate executive, a lobbyist, and a banker held a reception for cabinet ministers and Members of Parliament on the margins of the government’s recent caucus meeting in Edmonton, raising concerns within the Liberal Party that the event could be in breach of federal lobbying rules. The event was called The Western Exchange, and was held at the bar of the JW Marriott on September 10.

Arizona – Appeals Court Rejects New Voter-Behavior Rules for Arizona Polling Sites

Arizona Daily Star – Howard Fischer (Capitol News Services) | Published: 9/16/2025

Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes cannot enforce his ban on offensive or insulting speech at and around polling places, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled. The provisions Fontes included in the Elections Procedures manual are so broad they could criminalize unintentional conduct, the court concluded. Judge Kim Wardlaw, writing for the unanimous three-judge panel, said threat of prosecution could “chill” individuals from engaging in otherwise legal political activity.

Arizona – Adelita Grijalva Wins US House Special Election in Arizona, Delivering Decisive Signature for Epstein Files Push

MSN – Molly English (CNN) | Published: 9/24/2025

Democrat Adelita Grijalva won a special election in Arizona’s Seventh Congressional District, which will deliver the decisive signature to the push for a vote to release the Jeffrey Epstein case files. Discharge petitions historically have a bad track record of forcing a vote on the floor, mostly because lawmakers in the majority are wary of taking a stand against leadership. The Epstein issue, however, has animated some Republican members.

Arkansas – Bloggers File Ethics Complaint Against Arkansas Attorney General, Two Lawmakers and Related PACs

Yahoo News – Sonny Albarado (Arkansas Advocate) | Published: 9/22/2025

Complaints filed with the Arkansas Ethics Commission claim three Republican state officials and PACs tied to them “appear to have repeatedly and willfully violated” state campaign finance law. The co-founders of an online legislation tracking and analysis firm alleges Attorney General Tim Griffin, state Rep. David Ray, and state Sen. Ben Gilmore and PACs associated with them violated campaign contribution limits and prohibitions on illegal coordination of contributions, the use of public property for campaign purposes, and public servants receiving outside payment for carrying out official duties.

California – They Fought for Independent California Redistricting. Now They’re Sitting Out a Gerrymander

MSN – Jeremy White (Politico) | Published: 9/22/2025

Republicans fighting Gov. Gavin Newsom’s redistricting campaign in California have reassembled much of the coalition that brought independent lines to the state more than a decade ago. There is one big exception: good government groups that once helped to strip line-drawing power from state lawmakers. It reflects the intensified partisanship of the Trump era, as Common Cause and groups like it work to square their longstanding opposition to gerrymandering with a sense that American democracy is in peril.

California – Oakland’s Public Ethics Commission Has a New Leader

MSN – Darwin BondGraham (Oaklandside) | Published: 9/18/2025

The Oakland Public Ethics Commission appointed Suzanne Doran as executive director. Doran will lead the commission’s staff of eight professionals who are charged with enforcing the city’s campaign and ethics laws, investigating ethics complaints, and ensuring greater trust and accountability in city government. Commission Chairperson Francis Upton IV said commissioners ultimately chose Doran because of her experience and qualifications.

California – Judge Orders Trump Administration to Restore More Than $500 Million in Research Funds to UCLA

MSN – Eric He (Politico) | Published: 9/22/2025

A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to restart the flow of about $500 million in funding for scientific research it withheld from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), sparing the university for now from a devastating fiscal blow. While only temporary, the ruling was a significant victory for UCLA and the rest of the University of California system, which has been caught up in a campaign by federal officials to punish high profile universities for what conservatives allege was their overly permissive response to student protests over Israel’s war in Gaza and failure to address antisemitism on their campuses.

District of Columbia – A Statue of Trump and Epstein Holding Hands in D.C. Is removed as Fast as It Appeared

NPR – Rachel Treisman | Published: 9/24/2025

A statue of President Trump holding hands with Jeffrey Epstein appeared briefly on the District of Columbia’s National Mall, only to be removed after less than a day. Trump has repeatedly downplayed his relationship with Epstein, the convicted sex offender who died in jail. while a National Park Service permit issued for the statue allowed it to remain there until September 28, eyewitness video showed U.S. Park Police hauling it onto a truck before sunrise on September 24.

Georgia – Macon Mayor Fined for Campaign Finance Violations. What We Know.

Yahoo News – Myracle Lewis (Macon Telegraph) | Published: 9/18/2025

The Georgia State Ethics Commission fined Macon-Bibb County Mayor Lester Miller $5,000 for violating the state’s campaign finance laws. Miller reached a consent agreement with the commission to resolve findings that he improperly transferred $220,000 in excess campaign contributions to a nonprofit organization he helped establish two years ago.

Hawaii – Judge To Decide Fate of CEO Accused of Illegal Campaign Donations

Honolulu Civil Beat – Blaze Lovell | Published: 9/24/2025

A state judge says she will decide within 30 days whether the case of a Hawaii businessperson accused of funneling campaign contributions through subordinates should proceed. Prosecutors allege JL Capital Chief Executive Officer Tim Lee reimbursed employees for donations they made to the Honolulu mayoral campaigns of Keith Amemiya and Kym Pine in 2020. State law prohibits political donations in the name of anyone other than the source of the money.

Indiana – Governor Expands Cabinet Roles – But How Far Can Dual Office Holding Go in Indiana?

Yahoo News – Casey Smith (Indiana Capital Chronicle) | Published: 9/22/2025

Gov. Mike Braun’s decision to give two of his top officials additional leadership posts has revived a longstanding constitutional question in Indiana: when can one person legally hold two government offices at once? In August, Secretary of Education Katie Jenner was confirmed as the state’s next higher education commissioner, while also keeping her K-12 role. Following the abrupt resignation of Jennifer-Ruth Green, Indiana State Police Superintendent Anthony Scott was tapped by Braun to take on a second job serving as the secretary of public safety.

Maine – Democratic Fundraiser ActBlue Fined $100K by Maine Campaign Finance Watchdog

Portland Press Herald – Rachel Ohm | Published: 9/24/2025

ActBlue, a national online fundraising platform for Democrats, was fined $100,000 by Maine’s campaign finance watchdog for filing a report two weeks late. The fine is among the largest penalties the Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices has ever assessed and the largest for a registered political group that missed a published deadline. Jeff Hunter, an attorney for ActBlue, acknowledged fault at a commission meeting, attributing the late filing to a “kind of a perfect storm.”

Massachusetts – Former UMass Amherst Provost Pays $10,000 for Violating Conflict of Interest Law

MSN – Namu Sampath (MassLive) | Published: 9/24/2025

A former University of Massachusetts Amherst provost paid a $10,000 civil penalty for hiring her brother to positions in her department, the State Ethics Commission said. Heather Sharpes-Smith, former associate provost for instructional design and technology, violated the conflict-of-interest law when she asked whether an “unnamed guy” could be hired to a temporary position until a more permanent position was available. That person was her brother, the commission said.

Nebraska – Feds Say Former Nebraska Liquor Official Helped Strip Club in Exchange for Free Lap Dances, Sexual Favors

Courthouse News Service – Hillel Aron | Published: 9/24/2025

The former head of Nebraska’s liquor commission has been charged with fraud and is accused of providing favors to a strip club in exchange for money, free lap dances, and sexual favors. Employees of The Office Gentleman’s Club would, according to the indictment, “note on sticky notes the amount of money taken out of the business safe in order to provide to Hobert Rupe.” The sticky notes would read COB: the cost of doing business.

Nevada – Clark County Commissioners Violated Ethics Law by Failing to Disclose Free F1 Tickets

MSN – Mary Hynes (Las Vegas Review-Journal) | Published: 9/23/2025

The failure of five Clark County commissioners to fully disclose accepting free tickets to the Las Vegas Grand Prix constitutes a non-willful violation of Nevada’s ethics law, according to an agreement approved by the state Ethics Commission. Each county commissioner accepted a ticket or pass worth $10,900 to all four days of events at the inaugural Formula One race in November 2023.

Nevada – Lombardo, Ethics Commission Settle Long-Running Dispute Over Use of Sheriff’s Badge, Office

Nevada Independent – Tabitha Mueller | Published: 9/23/2025

The long-running saga surrounding Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo’s use of his Clark County sheriff’s badge and uniform during his first campaign for office finally ended with a settlement agreement finding the governor had not purposefully violated the ethics law and would be assessed a $5,000 payment. The Ethics Commission’ss attorney, Elizabeth Bassett, added that though the panel often includes a requirement for ethics training, that part was left out because Lombardo voluntarily underwent the training after he became governor.

New York – Democratic Elected Officials Arrested at ICE Facility in New York City

MSN – María Luisa Paúl and Grace Moon (Washington Post) | Published: 9/18/2025

More than a dozen New York elected officials, all members of the Democratic Party, were arrested at a federal building in Manhattan while seeking access to a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement holding facility and protesting the Trump administration’s mass deportation campaign. A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction requiring the agency to limit capacity, improve cleanliness, and expand access to legal phone calls at the facility. Immigration detention facilities fall under federal oversight, giving members of Congress the right to visit and inspect them. State and local lawmakers do not have that authority.

Ohio – Ohio Can Ban Foreign Donations to Ballot Campaigns, Appeals Court Rules

MSN – Jessie Balmert (Columbus Dispatch) | Published: 9/16/2025

Ohio can ban green card holders and foreign nationals from donating to statewide ballot campaigns without violating the First Amendment, a federal appeals court ruled. A divided Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals panel said the state can enforce the ban while a lawsuit challenging it is pending.

Ohio – Cleveland Heights Mayor Awarded Lucrative Graphic Design Contracts to Longtime Friend, Then Gave Her Full-Time Job

MSN – Cory Shaffer (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 9/24/2025

Cleveland Heights Mayor Kahlil Seren, who voters recently recalled, awarded multiple lucrative graphic design contracts to a longtime friend before hiring her to a full-time city position last year. Frances Collazo, who at the time lived in central Ohio, received more than $65,000 in city contracts from January to October 2024. One of the projects she worked on was never put out to bid. Another saw Collazo win the contract, even though her bid was twice as high as any other. The city paid her $12,000 to redesign the Planning Department’s website, a project the city did not ultimately implement.

Ohio – Ohio Lawmakers’ Texts, Emails Blocked from Public Scrutiny Under New Secrecy Law

MSN – Jeremy Pelzer (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 9/24/2025

Beginning on September 29, Ohio lawmakers’ text messages and emails between each other and their staff will be exempted from public-records disclosure for up to two years. The changes are the most significant restrictions to state public-records law regarding the Legislature in more than a quarter century. Critics say the new restrictions will allow lawmakers to keep the inner workings of the lawmaking process secret from the public.

Rhode Island – McKee Advisor Involved in ‘Fixed’ ILO Deal Cleared of Lobbying Complaint

MSN – Patrick Anderson (Providence Journal) | Published: 9/19/2025

Rhode Island Secretary of State Gregg Amore’s office cleared Michael Magee, a confidant of Gov. Dan McKee, of violating state lobbying laws for helping steer a pandemic-era education contract to the ILO Group. Common Cause Rhode Island filed a complaint against Magee last year. It argued he was legally required to register as a lobbyist in 2021 when he worked with McKee’s office to hire a firm founded by a former subordinate.

Tennessee – Glen Casada, Former TN House Speaker, Sentenced to 3 Years in Prison in Mailer Scheme

MSN – Evan Mealins (Nashville Tennessean) | Published: 9/23/2025

Former Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada was sentenced to three years and ordered to pay a $30,000 fine after his conviction on public corruption charges. Casada was found guilty for his role in what prosecutors describe as an unlawful scheme to take advantage of a state allowance for lawmakers to send informational mailers.He pressured state bureaucrats to approve payments for mailers to a shadowy political consulting company called Phoenix Solutions.

Texas – Ethics Agency Fines Former Texas Lawmaker $105K for Violating Revolving Door Law

MSN – Taylor Goldenstein (Houston Chronicle) | Published: 9/18/2025

A former Texas lawmaker who went on to work as a lobbyist was fined $105,500 by the state Ethics Commission skirting a “revolving door” law he helped write. The fine against Chris Paddie is the highest imposed by the commission in 15 years. Paddie retired in 2022 after chairing a powerful House committee that was tasked with holding energy firms accountable for failures during the state’s deadly 2021 winter storm. He later registered as a lobbyist and took on several of those same companies as clients.

Texas – Republican Redistricting Is Sowing Chaos in Houston

San Francisco Examiner – J. David Goodman (New York Times) | Published: 9/22/2025

First came the Republican gerrymander in Texas. Now comes the Democratic chaos in Houston. A certain amount of confusion is likely to play out in districts from the Rio Grande Valley to suburban Dallas, as voters and candidates adjust to new lines that are usually redrawn only once a decade. But Texas’ 18th House district is feeling it now, thanks to the unexpected death of Rep. Sylvester Turner, just weeks into this session of Congress; a special election that was delayed by Gov. Greg Abbott to help Republican leaders in Washington navigate their narrow House majority; and new district lines that will take effect soon after the special election.

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